‘Tis the season for coal deliveries

Oh! the joys of Christmas. Twinkling lights. Piles of presents. And interest groups enlisting Jolly Old St. Nick to take aim at political foes.

A young-looking Father Christmas working for Environment Colorado put a coal industry association on his naughty list – literally – in a stunt this afternoon drawing attention to an upcoming Public Utilities Commission decision about coal-fired power plants.

Out of a crowd of kids who’d drawn up wish lists for the event, not one requested an X-Box, Justin Bieber sheets[3] or whatever kids ask Santa for these days.

All they want for Christmas this year is — wait for it — clean air.

The PUC as early as Monday could approve a plan to close down some of the Front Range’s older coal-fire power plants and replace them with gas-burning plants as a result of the Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act signed into law earlier this year.

“And hanging in the balance is the air quality and quality of life for three million Coloradans for decades to come,” said Dana Hoffman[5], president of the environmental group that also delivered a lump of coal to the Colorado Mining Association[6].

While the PUC could announce its decision as early as Monday, a statement from the environmental group reminds everyone that “Santa’s decisions are not expected until the 25th of this month.”